All posts by Kenna

“Brad’s Status” Trailer

drama, , , , , ,

Written and Directed by Mike White, Brad’s Status follows Brad Sloan, played by Ben Stiller. He accompanies his college-bound son, Troy, played by Austin Abrams, to the East Coast.

The college scene sets off a crisis of confidence in Brad’s status. He starts contemplating whether he has a satisfying career and a comfortable life in suburban Sacramento, where he lives with his sweet-natured wife, Melanie, Jenna Fischer, and their musical prodigy son. Still, it is not what Brad imagined during his college glory days.

Showing Troy around Boston, where Brad went to university, he can’t help comparing his life with those of his four best college friends: a Hollywood bigshot, played by White), a hedge fund founder played by Luke Wilson, a tech entrepreneur, played by Jemaine Clement, and a political pundit and bestselling author, played by Michael Sheen.

Obviously, the movie’s message is about defining success, as the film follows Brad’s dilemma on whether he is successful or not.

“Home Again” Trailer

comedy, romance

Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer and produced by her mother Nancy Meyers, Home Again follows Alice Kinney,  played by Reese Witherspoon.  She decides to start her life over by moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her two young daughters.

Watch the trailer and you will see it is a cute, funny and romantic movie similar to Hallie’s mother’s movies like Something Gotta Give. During a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guest house temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways. Alice’s unlikely new family and new romance

With that, during a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guest house temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways. Alice’s unlikely new family and new romance come to a crashing halt when her ex-husband, played by Michael Sheen, shows up, suitcase in hand.  is a story of love, friendship, and the families we create. And one very big life lesson: Starting over is not for beginners.

This is a fun movie to watch with no seriousness – just plain romping.

“Lady Macbeth” Trailer

based on a book, drama, thriller,

Directed by William Oldroyd, Lady Macbeth occurs in rural England in 1865. Don’t let the title fool you. It has nothing to do with Shakespeare.  The story is about a woman who is trapped in a loveless marriage to a much older man and begins a passionate affair with a man her own age

The movie is adapted from Nikolai Leskov’s 1865 novel Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. The director’s debut weaves a storyline that is nothing new, but the trailer seems intense, not revealing too much like most trailers do these days.

“Dunkirk” Trailer and Clips

action, adventure, true stories,

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is a story mentioned in films or television shows. I don’t believe it has ever been a dedicated movie. It is an amazing story, and World War II has so many stories to tell. The movie is a courageous story at an amazing time in our history.

With that, in May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.

The movie tells the story of how these fishermen pulled it off.  I am excited about seeing this movie.

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” Trailers and Vignette

action, adventure, children movies, comedy, family movies, thriller, , , , ,

Directed by Jake Kasdan, son of Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat), who also directed Bad Teacher, Zero Effect, and Sex Tape, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle follows a breakfast club theme where four teenagers end up as avatars in the Jumanji game.

The teenagers discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.  Nick Jonas plays one on the teenagers. The trailer is fun to watch since the avatars are against type.

What teenagers discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji –Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever. If you haven’t seen the first Jumanji, then you wouldn’t know how to play the game.

I have to mention the first move because it is awesome and still available with Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst starring. 

The newest poster is funnier. It really shows the characters. This could be a fun movie because giving it a Christmas release date shows the studios are banking on it being successful at the box office.  But, box office success doesn’t always mean a fun movie.

“A Bad Moms Christmas” Trailers, Clips, Interviews, Blu-ray/DVD

comedy, holiday movies, ,

Co-directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, we are in for more bad mom movies. The movie follows best friends Amy, played by Mila Kunis, Kiki, played by Kristen Bell, and Carla, played by Kathryn Hahn, unburden more stress during the holidays when their respective mothers come to visit.

The Blu-ray/DVD is on the streets even though it is nowhere near Christmas. Somehow, I think you will agree with me. Let’s wait and watch the movie until Christmas. But, if you are an early Christmas shopper, you can get the package now.

With that, here are the two trailers for A Bad Moms Christmas. One of these trailers is a Red Band trailer.  The Red Band trailer is funny. I am laughing!

These clips are so funny that I just have to post each one. Have a good laugh!

 

“The Greatest Showman” Poster, Trailers & Blu-ray/DVD

adventure, family movies, kid movies, legend, music, , , , ,

Directed by Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman stars the talented cast, including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. The original songs by the Oscar Winning lyricists for the movie La La Land are Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The trailer is so upbeat and promising. I know there will be no letdown at the box office or a disappointment in the movie theaters.

The story follows Jackman’s character Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum. The trailer shows off an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business while telling a magical story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

The Blu-ray and DVD have hit the streets and is available if you want to see the movie again or you haven’t seen it yet. Now it is your chance. My daughter saw the film for the first time while flying from Atlanta to Sacramento. She said the music was phenomenal, and Zac Efron was outstanding.

I just saw it last night and wish the second act was stronger but loved the music. I have to admit. I became interested in P.T. Barnum’s life. I did a little research and discovered his life is worth telling, and it is a story to be said – fantastic character.

This trailer shows a more modern twist in the music. Interesting way, it might grab the attention of younger audiences like teenagers.

“The Foreigner” Poster and Trailer

action, thriller,

From the director of Casino Royale, The Foreigner stars Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. The action thriller follows a humble London businessman Quan, played by Jackie Chan. Whose long-buried past explodes into revenge fueled by terrorists when the only person left for him to love — his teenage daughter — taken from him in a senseless act of politically-motivated terrorism.

In his uncompromising search for the identity of the terrorists, Quan forced into a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official, played by Pierce Brosnan. His past holds clues to the names of the hard to pin down killers.

I have a hard time watching a movie where someone’s teenage daughter gets killed. With that, I am sure Chan is doing his own stunts. This role for Brosnan is refreshing to see.

“Pitch Perfect 3” Trailers and Blu-Ray/DVD

comedy, music, sequels, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by  Trish Sie, the cast just keeps getting larger and larger with an impressive list of talent.

Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office.

After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth.  But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

The Blu-ray/DVD hit the streets, so if you missed the movie in theaters, and now you can buy the movie for real. The package includes new songs.

Comparing the Blu-ray cover with the movie poster,  the yellow background makes the movie seem lighter not as dark or foreboding.

Perhaps, shoppers are likely to pick up a lighter colored package than a darker one.

“Stronger” Trailer and Clips

drama, romance, true stories, , , ,

Directed by David Gordon Green, Stronger is a true story following Jeff Bauman, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Jeff is a 27-year-old working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin, played by Tatiana Maslany.

Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff can help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his battle has just begun.

Watching the trailer, the story unfolds. We see Jeff tackling physical and emotional rehabilitation with Erin and his family. The trailer is filled with raw emotion. Stronger also stars Miranda Richardson and Clancy Brown.

David Gordon Green’s signature movie is Pineapple Express. Quite different from this true story based on the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy.